Above: A farmer carefully lays a whitethorn hedge
What: Free Hedgerow Management demo focusing on hedgelaying, coppicing,planting and growing trees.
Where: At Martin Burns farm, Drumcrew, Castleblayney, Eircode A75CP
When: Sunday 8th October 2023 between 2pm and 5pm.
Who: The demo is being organised by John McKeon (087 1462790)
This week we start off with a few lines from Seamus Heaney’s poem, Blackberry-Picking. Then we have a fantastic blackberry recipe which was shared by Janice at Nourished by Nature for using up all those tasty berries we see along the hedgerows.
Finally we hear from Mary at Rowan Wellness and Gardens on a Kombucha and Canning workshop this weekend, 23rd September. We hope you enjoy. Firstly here’s an excerpt from the late great Heaney.
“Late August, given heavy rain and sun
For a full week, the blackberries would ripen.
At first, just one, a glossy purple clot
Among others, red, green, hard as a knot….”
Irish Water Quality Under Pressure Tydavnet GWS showcase Knocknagrave
Algal Blooms In Irish Lakes: The quality of waterways across Ireland has dropped over the decades and this summer has seen a raft of freshwater lakes closed to bathing due to algal blooms: the algae can cause serious sickness in humans. A combination of domestic, agricultural and industrial effluent has combined to increase nutrient levels in our lakes leading to the blooms of blue/green algae. In August 2023 Monaghan Co Co reported poor water quality in two well-visited bathing lakes as testing showed high levels of E. coli in both Lough Muckno (Blayney) and in Creevy Lake (Carrickmacross). Up-to-date testing results are available at https://monaghan.ie/environment/bathing-waters/ The picture above is particularly apt in this context and it pulls no punches in portraying how humans coevolved with nature but now threaten its very survival. Thankfully we can take many simple steps to reduce our impacts on nature and our waterways and hence make our drinking water better.
Continue readingTransition Monaghan host informal workshop
A Cuppa for Climate: In June 2023 Transition Monaghan hosted an informal workshop in St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Monaghan Town, where the public were invited to come and chat about Climate and Environmental issues that were on their mind. The event was under the umbrella of Friends of the Earth, Ireland who helped organise similar events throughout Ireland. As well as sharing examples of local best practices and positive steps participants are taking in their own lives to reduce environmental impacts, a number of broader themes came up during discussions.
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Transition Monaghan 